A school in Bushey has once again proved their debating skills and have won a place in the regional finals.

Queen’s School, in Bushey, took part in the UK’s toughest debating competition, the Institute of Ideas Debating Matters Competition, on December 8.

The school’s debating team that took part triumphed over Newham Sixth Form College by arguing a secular society should not prevent people from acting on their religious beliefs.

Kevin Rooney, head of social science at the school and who is in charge of debating, said: “I am proud of our debaters, they work like dogs, and they stay up late at night.

“We worked together on the motions on Saturday and Sunday. That’s dedication for you!

“That’s why they deserve the success they had. I love the fact that our students love debating so much. It’s a happy story.”

The debaters from Queen's School will now represent the Tower Hamlets borough at the London Inner Regional Finals.

During the debate, the students were asked questions from a group of expert judges including Lee Jones, senior lecturer in politics at Queen Mary University, the head of citizenship and participation at DEMOS Ralph Scott and Alka Seghal-Cuthbert, a research student at the University of Cambridge.

The competition is sponsored by the primary funder the Wellcome Trust, an independent global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health through science, research and engagement with society.